2025 Fantrax Writers Mock: Prospect Highlight

With spring training in full swing and prospect highlights flooding our feeds—like Samuel Basallo launching absolute tanks—it’s the perfect time to evaluate how top young talents are being valued in fantasy drafts. In the annual Fantrax Fantasy Baseball Staff Mock Draft, prospects played a major role, with drafters eager to land the next breakout star. This 16-team, one-catcher roto draft gave us a clear look at where the top prospects are going and how aggressive fantasy baseball managers are willing to be. Below, I’ll show the key prospect selections, the biggest surprises, and what it all means for your upcoming fantasy drafts.

This article is meant to be a prospect highlight for those we believe should be drafted. I did not include players like Junior Caminero or James Wood who have already exhausted their rookie status. Thus, I only include players in this list that have accrued <130 at-bats or <50 innings pitched. With decades of experience in this draft, this can be a great guide for your draft to know where prospects are actually selected, and where you should reasonably expect to draft your favorite prospect. This is the 2025 Fantrax Writers Mock: Prospect Highlight.

More Prospect Rankings: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP – (Links will be added as our Prospect Rankings continue)

Mock Draft Prospect Selections

First Prospect Taken: Jasson Domínguez (Round 8, Pick 6, Overall 118)

Of course, the first prospect taken was by me—would you expect anything less? The real question is, why Domínguez? In round 8 of a 5-OF league, I had just Mookie Betts and needed another outfielder before the talent pool thinned. Domínguez, with a 152 ADP, offers elite power-speed potential. I also considered Dylan Crews (141 ADP), but lineup context tipped the decision. Domínguez should have better counting stats in the Yankees’ lineup. Picking late, I knew neither would fall back to me with 20+ picks in between. It might be a reach, but I’m happy with it.

In his first big league at-bat, on his first big league swing, Jasson Domínguez sent the ball into orbit! 👽

Happy 22nd birthday to The Martian 🥳 pic.twitter.com/Fmug3qbWSt

— MLB (@MLB) February 7, 2025

Biggest Surprise: Roman Anthony (Round 20, Pick 4, Overall 304)

The surprise isn’t that Roman Anthony was drafted, but how far he fell. MLB ranks him No. 2 overall, and he’s No. 1 for Trevor Hooth and me. Yet, Bubba Chandler, Kristian Campbell, Kumar Rocker, and Andrew Painter all went ahead of him. There’s no doubt about Anthony’s fantasy upside, but he was the 10th prospect taken. This draft clearly favored players with more certain roster spots. The four picks before him don’t have guaranteed roles either. With a 281 ADP, Anthony could be a huge value, especially in Dynasty leagues.

When they say crushed, this is what they mean.

Roman Anthony with a 116 mph moonshot in Portland! pic.twitter.com/SQKPhAAquL

— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) July 31, 2024

Best Value Pick: Jordan Lawlar (Round 28, Pick 4, Overall 436)

A few factors worked against Jordan Lawlar, causing his draft slide. First, GM Mike Hazen suggested he’d start in Triple-A before spring training. Then, the Diamondbacks extended Geraldo Perdomo for four years and $45 million, blocking his path. Shortstop is also stacked, making it harder to justify reaching for him. Despite that, Lawlar’s upside and a 345 ADP—nearly 100 picks later—make him a steal. He’ll be in the majors at some point in 2025, barring injury. If he impresses this spring, he might force his way into the lineup sooner.

Jordan Lawlar 🚀

MLB's No. 11 prospect clobbers his first homer of the spring for the @Dbacks. pic.twitter.com/fBJWTgQbEW

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 26, 2025

Most Risky Pick: Andrew Painter (Round 19, Pick 10, Overall 298)

I love Andrew Painter. He’s the only prospect, including Roki Sasaki and Jackson Jobe, with the potential to match Paul Skenes’ impact. I rank him above Jobe, but the Phillies have a set rotation with little uncertainty. Painter is recovering from Tommy John, so his innings will be limited this season. Dave Dombrowski has already said he won’t pitch in spring training and likely won’t debut until July. That debut will probably come in the minors. In Dynasty, he’s a steal. In redraft, too much has to go right for him to provide value. His current ADP is 331.

Can't wait for Andrew Painter to debut this summer.

His 2022 season was dominance to the max…

22 GS, 103.2 IP, 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 6.2% BB, 38.7% K#RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/3s6dh0er6t

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) December 26, 2024

Best Dynasty Stash: Kristian Campbell (Round 19, Pick 5, Overall 293)

When drafting prospects, I focus on two things: elite tools and opportunity, especially in redraft leagues. Kristian Campbell has some of the loudest tools in the minors, but his path just got tougher with Alex Bregman’s signing. The Red Sox haven’t clarified their infield plans, adding more uncertainty. Right now, it looks like Devers at 3B, Bregman at 2B, and Yoshida at DH. But Devers has been the worst defensive 3B over the last five years, so a shift to DH seems inevitable. That would push Bregman to 3B and open 2B for Campbell. When that happens is unclear, making him the best stash in this draft. His current ADP is 285 per FantasyPros.

I’m tired of the Bregman talks, at this point let’s have Kristian Campbell be the opening day 2nd basemanpic.twitter.com/eNAIzaMkLF

— Unbiased Red Sox Fan (@unbiasedsoxfan) February 6, 2025

By The Numbers

• Of the 448 selections 23 were prospects
• Naturally, the two prospect writers Trevor Hooth (5) and I (4) made the most prospect selections
  • Trevorhooth – 5
  • Wes_Hughes15 – 4
  • Dmytrow – 3
  • Auerbach – 2
  • Todd’s Team – 2
  • McTamany – 2
  • Doug – 1
  • Kirksey – 1
  • mheckman1 – 1
  • Chris – 1
  • Curvearoonie – 1
• On Average prospects were selected 21 picks ahead of their current ADP
• The top 5 drafted prospects who are penciled into starting roles were selected 31 picks ahead of their ADP on average, while late-round prospects were taken only 12 picks ahead of ADP on average.
• Pitchers were drafted 24 spots ahead of ADP on average, while hitters were drafted only 16 spots ahead.
• The gap from Roki Sasaki (pick 142) to Jackson Jobe (pick 215) is 73 picks, showing the value of guaranteed roster spots.
• The gap from Matt Shaw (pick 232) to Bubba Chandler (pick 284) is 52 picks, showing hesitation before selecting the next wave of prospects.
• Prospects drafted after the top 5 could see a ~30-spot ADP rise based on early-round trends.
• Biggest risers: Zebby Matthews (+92 ADP vs pick), Nick Yorke (+165), AJ Smith-Shawver (+135)—if they perform well, they could jump 100+ spots.
• Bounce-back candidates: Jordan Lawlar (-91) and Luisangel Acuña (-103) slid in this draft but could regain 50+ spots if their MLB paths become clearer.
• Late-round arms: Smith-Shawver, and Chandler—a strong spring could push them 30-50 spots up in ADP.

Follow me on X: @ProspectsOnWes | Get an early start on your 2025 Draft Prep with the updated Top 500 Dynasty Rankings. | Then check out my Top-400 Overall Fantasy Prospects

For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.